Surf by month

Where to surf in April

April is a month of change. Europe gets smaller and calmer, Indonesia's dry season starts, and the first southern hemisphere swells reach the Pacific coast of Central America.

Zones at their best7
Also good17
Out of season3

Plan a surf trip for April

April at a glance

Zone	Country	April	Flight from Europe	Daily budget
Guanacaste	Costa Rica	Prime	11-14h	$40/day
Finistère (Brittany)	France	Prime	2h	$25/day
Southwest Panama	Panama	Prime	12-15h	$30/day
Porto & the North	Portugal	Prime	2-3h	$25/day
The Algarve	Portugal	Prime	2-3h	$25/day
Galicia	Spain	Prime	2h	$20/day
Lanzarote	Spain	Prime	2h	$20/day
Central Puntarenas	Costa Rica	Good	11-14h	$40/day
Golfo Dulce	Costa Rica	Good	11-14h	$40/day
Golfo de Nicoya	Costa Rica	Good	11-14h	$40/day
Côte Basque	France	Good	2h	$25/day
Gironde	France	Good	2h	$25/day
Landes (Hossegor)	France	Good	2h	$25/day
Java	Indonesia	Good	16-20h	$28/day
Mentawai Islands	Indonesia	Good	16-20h	$28/day
Sumatra-Nias	Indonesia	Good	16-20h	$28/day
West Panamá Province	Panama	Good	12-15h	$30/day
Azores	Portugal	Good	2-3h	$25/day
Ericeira	Portugal	Good	2-3h	$25/day
Lisbon Coast	Portugal	Good	2-3h	$25/day
Madeira	Portugal	Good	2-3h	$25/day
Asturias	Spain	Good	2h	$20/day
Basque Country	Spain	Good	2h	$20/day
Fuerteventura	Spain	Good	2h	$20/day

At their best in April

Guanacaste, Costa Rica · Prime

Dec-Apr: Dry season, offshore mornings, sunshine, clean NW-fed 3-4ft waves almost daily.

11-14h flight from Europe · from $40/day · 5 beginner spots

Finistère (Brittany), France · Prime

Sep-Apr: Wide swell window catches groundswell from most directions.

2h flight from Europe · from $25/day · 2 beginner spots

Crozon Peninsula 4 spots
Pointe du Raz & South 4 spots

Southwest Panama, Panama · Prime

Apr-Jun: S-SW swell arriving, offshore mornings, Santa Catalina firing almost daily.

12-15h flight from Europe · from $30/day · 1 beginner spot

Morro Negrito 5 spots
Santa Catalina 2 spots

Porto & the North, Portugal · Prime

Sep-Apr: Consistent swell from multiple directions, cold but reliable.

2-3h flight from Europe · from $25/day

Porto Coast 5 spots
Viana do Castelo 3 spots

The Algarve, Portugal · Prime

Oct-Apr: Consistent NW-W swell, mild Algarve winter, fewer crowds.

2-3h flight from Europe · from $25/day · 5 beginner spots

Costa Vicentina 4 spots
Sagres & Lagos 5 spots

Galicia, Spain · Prime

Sep-Apr: Wide-open Atlantic swell window, consistent and powerful.

2h flight from Europe · from $20/day · 2 beginner spots

Ferrolterra 2 spots
Costa da Morte 2 spots

Lanzarote, Spain · Prime

Oct-Apr: Biggest, most consistent NW-N swell, dry warm climate.

2h flight from Europe · from $20/day · 1 beginner spot

Famara Bay 3 spots
North Coast Reefs 4 spots

Also good in April

Central Puntarenas, Costa Rica · Good

Dec-Apr: Short dry season, cleaner, sunnier, but smaller than the summer swell.

11-14h flight from Europe · from $40/day · 7 beginner spots

Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica · Good

Apr-Jun: Season building, S-SW swell arriving, lush and quiet, roads still passable.

11-14h flight from Europe · from $40/day · 4 beginner spots

Cabo Matapalo 4 spots
Pavones & the south 5 spots

Golfo de Nicoya, Costa Rica · Good

Dec-Apr: Dry season, cleaner conditions and WNW pulses, though smaller than the summer swell.

11-14h flight from Europe · from $40/day · 5 beginner spots

Côte Basque, France · Good

Apr-Jun, Sep: Reliable swell, festival season starts in October.

2h flight from Europe · from $25/day · 3 beginner spots

Biarritz & Anglet 4 spots
Guéthary & Hendaye 4 spots

Gironde, France · Good

Apr-Jun, Sep: Reliable swell, milder crowds.

2h flight from Europe · from $25/day · 3 beginner spots

Lacanau & Le Porge 3 spots
Cap Ferret & Le Verdon 4 spots

Landes (Hossegor), France · Good

Apr-Jun, Sep: Reliable swell, milder crowds.

2h flight from Europe · from $25/day · 1 beginner spot

Hossegor & Capbreton 3 spots
Seignosse & Vieux-Boucau 3 spots

Java, Indonesia · Good

Apr-May: Early season glass, camps opening, few takers.

16-20h flight from Europe · from $28/day · 2 beginner spots

Mentawai Islands, Indonesia · Good

Apr-May: Fewer boats and good swell.

16-20h flight from Europe · from $28/day

Playgrounds (North) 8 spots
South Mentawai 8 spots

Sumatra-Nias, Indonesia · Good

Apr-May: Season building, lineups empty, camps at shoulder rates.

16-20h flight from Europe · from $28/day · 1 beginner spot

West Panamá Province, Panama · Good

Apr-Jun: S-SW swell building; the narrow window means it's smaller than Santa Catalina.

12-15h flight from Europe · from $30/day · 3 beginner spots

Rio Mar & the coast 10 spots
Panama City breaks 5 spots

Azores, Portugal · Good

Apr-Jun, Sep: More settled weather, still decent swell.

2-3h flight from Europe · from $25/day · 2 beginner spots

São Miguel 3 spots
Terceira 5 spots

Ericeira, Portugal · Good

Mar-Apr, Sep: Reliable swell, milder water, shoulder-season crowds.

2-3h flight from Europe · from $25/day · 1 beginner spot

Ribeira d'Ilhas & Coxos 3 spots
Ericeira Town & South 3 spots

Lisbon Coast, Portugal · Good

Apr-May, Sep: Reliable swell, warming water, fewer crowds.

2-3h flight from Europe · from $25/day · 5 beginner spots

Madeira, Portugal · Good

Apr-May, Oct: Smaller, more manageable swell, milder weather.

2-3h flight from Europe · from $25/day

West Madeira 4 spots

Asturias, Spain · Good

Apr-Jun, Sep: Reliable swell, milder crowds.

2h flight from Europe · from $20/day · 2 beginner spots

Gijón & Central Coast 7 spots
Tapia & West Asturias 2 spots

Basque Country, Spain · Good

Apr-Jun, Sep: Reliable swell, milder crowds.

2h flight from Europe · from $20/day · 2 beginner spots

Mundaka & Bizkaia 3 spots
Zarautz & Gipuzkoa 2 spots

Fuerteventura, Spain · Good

Apr-Jun, Sep: Smaller swell, still warm and windy.

2h flight from Europe · from $20/day

The North Track 6 spots
South Coast 4 spots

Where beginners can surf in April

These zones are in season in April and have the most beginner-friendly spots:

Central Puntarenas, Costa Rica: Playitas, Playa Matapalo and Dominicalito
Guanacaste, Costa Rica: Playa Grande, Tamarindo and Ostional
The Algarve, Portugal: Amado, Zavial and Tonel
Golfo de Nicoya, Costa Rica: Playa Coyote, Playa Santa Teresa and Playa Carmen (Mal País)
Lisbon Coast, Portugal: Carcavelos, São Pedro do Estoril and Praia das Maçãs
Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica: Playa Carate, Pan Dulce and Playa Zancudo

Out of season in April

Limón (Costa Rica), Sumbawa (Indonesia) and Bocas del Toro (Panama) are in their quiet months. Check each country's season guide before booking.

Surfing in April: common questions

Where is the best place to surf in April?

In April the zones at their best are Guanacaste (Costa Rica), Finistère (Brittany) (France), Southwest Panama (Panama), Porto & the North (Portugal), The Algarve (Portugal) and Galicia (Spain), among 7 in total.

Where can I surf in Europe in April?

15 European zones are in season in April: Finistère (Brittany), Porto & the North, The Algarve, Galicia, Lanzarote and Côte Basque.

Where can beginners surf in April?

Good options are Central Puntarenas in Costa Rica, Guanacaste in Costa Rica, The Algarve in Portugal and Golfo de Nicoya in Costa Rica.

Where is the cheapest place to surf in April?

Among the zones in season, the lowest daily budgets are in Spain (from $20 a day). Flights make a big difference, so compare the total in the planner.

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